Childhood dream vs. Reality

When I saw a child I wanted to be a scientist (aside from the obvious dreams of being a jedi, millionaire playboy etc).

After a decade a uni studying chem/biochem I am now ... a manager of scientists. I was a scientist for a few years but now I spend all my time pushing paper, doing performance reviews and crying a little inside.

Still, my salary keeps the wolves at bay, I suppose. :D
 
I wanted to be an astronaut one day and police the next - but didn't really do anything about it and fell into what i do now which isn't a million miles away (not the astronaut!)
 
My earliest dream was probably that of a fighter pilot.

Never pursued it as an adult though...


Recently tried Sky Combat Ace in Vegas (acrobatic stunt flying) and it's probably a good thing I didn't try to become a pilot as I felt sick as hell about half way through and took half an hour from landing to get back to normal.

My wife said it was a breeze and could have handle way more intense things. We pulled 6Gs so clearly she's the one who should look into being a pilot. :eek:
 
From an early age playing civ 1 I wanted to work in game design. I wasn't sure what part, art or programming, I pretty much just wanted to make games.

Today I've been working in the VFX industry as a R&D programmer doing very similar work as a game programmer for the last 2 or 3 years. Eventually I'll make the switch to games as it's a pretty common switchover back and forth with a lot of similar technology used in both.

The most important thing I've learnt is that you can be anything you want to be, your job doesn't define you. I could work on a game in my spare time at which point I'd be a game programmer.
 
Personally, I didn't really have a childhood dream. I was lost up until the age of 16. Then I realised if I wanted something, the only way to gain that was by working for it.

So, any dream I've had since then has pretty much become a reality. I bought a very nice superbike at 19 that my dad had taken me to see as a kid when Foggy was riding it. So that was my first taste of getting something when you earn it. Since then, none stop really.

My latest dream is leaving the UK to travel. I arrive in Bangkok 31st December... I will go around Asia for a bit then I have a flight to Australia and a working visa for a year... No idea what will happen after that.

Career wise, I have progressed purely by the want to do well. I am in a position that a lot would consider very good for my age and experience. Actually, I shouldn't be in the job flat out. I have no qualifications, but I worked hard and it's paid off. Although due to the progression I've made, I will be known as 'the kid' due to being half the age of the guys on the team lol.

On that basis, no, I have not fulfilled my childhood dreams, but filled my adult ones unlike many who get complacent and just accept what they have. Drive forward! Aim for things just out of reach. You will achieve a lot more.
 
When I was young, I've always wanted to become a scientist. One that can do something amazing like cure the world of all illness (I was a kid, pessimism wasn't even in my book of words).

Today, I am a scientist of sorts - but curing the world of all illness is no where near my agenda.
 
Always wanted to be a train driver.

When I was about 7, my dad managed to talk a driver between Swansea and Cardiff for me to sit on his lap and 'drive' the train for about 30 minutes.

It was awesome, but then I'd had my fill. Can't say I've really dreamt of anything since..
 
From about 6 to 16 mine was probably Paleontologist -> Archaeologist -> Vet -> Ad Agency. I run a media agency now so not far off the last/most realistic ambition.
 
Always thought I was going to be a Paediatrician. Went on with bio for 2 years and hated it. Decided to change my major to mechanical engineering, and now I'm designing surfboards/skateboards. Not too shabby :)
 
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